A COVID start, a confident finish

The beginning of a new year marks an exciting time for first-year university students. They flood into their new campus, settle in at their residencies and excitedly prepare for the long-anticipated O-Week shenanigans.

But for Tanya Lee, the first years of university were marred by silence and separation.

That was the reality for many students who completed or began their milestone years in the midst of a pandemic.

“My first two years were mostly online, so actually going into a classroom and finally meeting people in person felt overwhelming at first, since I am not really one to approach people,” she says.

Overwhelming though the experience was, it shifted Tanya from a self-labelled introvert who avoided speaking up, to a graduate who can confidently present at events and lead teams.

She attributes much of the confidence boost to her participation in the ANU Student Managed Fund (SMF), the ANU International Business Plan Competition in 2023, and assuming various roles in the ANU AFEC Students’ Society.

“I gained a real understanding of leadership, this year particularly – learning to listen to people, recognising different working styles and bringing a diverse team together toward a shared goal,” says Tanya.

“Dealing with conflicts and communicating with so many different stakeholders – I am able to stand my ground a lot more, I have more drive.”

A Canberra local, she had an excellent education, family, and friends wrapped in a neat package.

“The quieter setting made it a good place to focus academically. The University’s proximity to government departments and strong public-sector pathways also aligned with the career direction I was interested in,” she says.

Another strong incentive for Tanya to study at ANU were the practical opportunities on offer within her finance and commerce studies, like the International Business Plan Competition.

“These opportunities demonstrated how coursework could be applied in a real-world professional setting,” she says.

“Our teachers also emphasised this point – Dr Dana Hanna and Paul Ngo especially delivered engaging content and linked topics to current affairs, making the material more relevant and engaging.”

Through Tanya’s dedication and perseverance, she has found new strength in her capabilities and broadened the scope of how far they reach.

“I have built a major network over the past few years, industry exposure and developed real technical skills which have helped me so much in the workplace.”

Summarising her university experience, Tanya describes the perfect balance that ANU provided.

“One thing I really enjoyed was making friends at ANU – I’ve formed some very strong bonds. I also love how close the campus is to the city and the lake; whenever I need a break, it’s so easy to walk or drive over, and there are plenty of nice cafés to catch up with people.”

Tanya Lee

Tanya was born in Canberra, Australia. After graduating high school, she began a double degree in Commerce and International Relations, and later transferred to Commerce and Finance. She gained practical experience through internships at the Department of Finance, where she worked on the Federal Budget, and at EY Sydney in the Infrastructure Advisory team, contributing to a Joint Venture project and preparing presentations and contracts for external clients. Tanya also worked as a fraud data analyst at the Department of Defence. After graduating, she joined Defence’s Commonwealth Budget Coordination team, focusing on the Defence Budget.

The ANU College of Business and Economics offers an extensive range of specialised programs. Click here for more details.

Image credit: Anthony Trinh Media